Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States, taking the lives of more than 350,000 people each year. Anyone can experience Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), including infants, children, teens, young adults and people in their 30s and 40s who have no sign of heart disease, as well as more mature adults.
SCA is not a heart attack. A heart attack is caused by impeded blood flow through the heart. SCA is caused by a structural or electrical problem, often from an undetected heart condition, and in other instances, from an infection or a severe blow to the chest. In 95% of cases, the SCA victim is lost.
To survive SCA, the victim must receive life-saving defibrillation from an automated external defibrillator (AED) within the first four to six minutes. Every minute that passes without a shock from an AED decreases the chance of survival by 10%. Administering hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be a bridge to life until an AED arrives.
As noted by the Institute of Medicine, the SCA survival rate has remained stagnant for three decades because we aren’t as prepared as we should be to save a life.
There is a critical need to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and educate people about prevention strategies and how to take immediate action in the case of a cardiac emergency.
These heart organizations offer information about:
The mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health.
The nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, we fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives.
CCF actively works with federal agencies, medical societies, voluntary health organizations, and hospitals nationwide to increase awareness, accelerate research, and advance education on pediatric cardiomyopathy, a chronic diseaseof the heart muscle.
The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients, and the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders.
We are committed to providing support, education, advocacy and advancing research, understanding and care of those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Our mission is dedicated to inspiring hope and improving the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support.
We are the national voice solely dedicated to sudden cardiac arrest prevention in youth. Take the Prevention Promise and use our free 5 to Stay Alive toolkit to educate yourself and your community about how to save a young life.
Our mission is to save the lives and support the families of children and adults who are genetically predisposed to sudden cardiac death due to heart rhythm abnormalities.
We are dedicated to promoting solutions to prevent sudden cardiac death, including increased awareness, immediate bystander action, public access to defibrillation (PAD), cardiovascular disease prevention, and access to preventative therapies.
Our vision is to increase awareness about SCA and influence changes that will reduce mortality through the increased use of bystander CPR and AEDs.
Our mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women living with or at risk of heart disease, and to advocate for their benefit.